After the game, Paul dodged the question about whether there was a confrontation in the locker room. But about the game scuffle, he said, “It’s always like that when you hoop, especially when you’re playing against a former team, stuff like that, all the emotions that go into it, seeing familiar faces and stuff like that.”

During the game, the heated exchange of words started with Ariza and Austin Rivers, who was in street clothes. Griffin stepped, prompting Rockets Head Coach Mike D’Antoni joined the verbal confrontation.